Workshop: Rethinking Events Without Waste – Workshop 2: Organic Waste

Are you an event organiser, venue manager, or sustainability lead looking to start or advance your zero waste journey?

Join Without Waste for this FREE four-part workshop series designed to give event professionals practical tools to reduce waste, plan with confidence, cut costs, and create better event experiences.

This second workshop will focus on organic waste at events, exploring how organic waste systems operate across different regions, the confusion surrounding compostable packaging, food waste separation, and opportunities to work with caterers and food rescue organisations.

Gain practical guidance you can apply to your own events, venues, vendors, suppliers, and operations.

Topics include:

• Understanding organic waste
  Why organic waste is valuable but often misunderstood, including the differences between food waste, compostable packaging, and biodegradable materials.

• Regional differences in organic waste diversion
  Why accepted materials vary between regions and what this means for event planning and packaging decisions.

• The challenges of compostable packaging
  Common misconceptions, lookalike products, and the practical realities of managing compostable packaging at events.

• Reducing contamination and improving separation
  Practical solutions including clear signage, bin monitoring, approved packaging, and vendor education.

• Working with caterers and food rescue organisations
  Opportunities to prevent food waste, improve separation behind the scenes, and redirect surplus food.

• Practical next steps
  Simple actions you can take to improve organic waste diversion at your next event.

Venue & location

SBN Events space, Level 5/48 Emily Place, Auckland 1010

Workshop schedule:

• 6:00pm–6:30pm: Networking

• 6:30pm–7:30pm: Workshop presentation

• 7:30pm–8:00pm: Networking and discussion

Nibbles and drinks will be provided. The event is FREE!

The presentation will also be recorded for those unable to attend the full session.

Details of the remaining workshops will be shared once confirmed.

These workshops are funded by the Auckland Council Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund.

This workshop is not delivered by NZEA